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Lessons
Learned About What Is Helpful When Working With Victims' Families

The Crash of ValuJet 592,
A Forensic Approach to Severe Body Fragmentation
documents the lessons learned in the aftermath of the crash of ValuJet
592 into the Florida Everglades on May 11, 1996, which killed all 110
persons on board. Written by medical examiners who worked on this case,
this book describes forensic lessons learned as well as lessons learned
about helping victims families.

This book reports that after the crash of
ValuJet 592, the families immediately wanted information. They expressed
concern about not knowing what was going on regarding recovery of the
remains, identification, and issuance of death certificates. It became
very important to provide the victims families accurate information,
so an informational letter addressing identification and notification
procedures, disposition options, issuance of death certificates, and matters
related to unidentified remains was sent to all families. A followup letter
with updated information was later sent to the families.

In any mass fatality, it is extremely important
to be humane and considerate when notifying next of kin after an identification
has been made. Decisions about how to accomplish this may differ in different
mass-fatality events. The Crash of ValuJet 592, A Forensic Approach
to Severe Body Fragmentation describes the notification protocol
established during the ValuJet 592 recovery effort. The same protocol
was followed for all identifications: all notifications had to be made
in person, not by telephone. This protocol was established to show respect
to the families and ensure that the families received the proper information
and understood it. Every family was visited by a notification team consisting
of one law enforcement officer, to show respect, and one mental health
professional or member of the clergy, to offer the family help and support.

Like other air disasters, the ValuJet 592
air disaster left in its wake severely fragmented bodies. The following
excerpt is taken from The Crash of ValuJet 592, A Forensic Approach
to Severe Body Fragmentation (2000: 52). The medical examiners in
this case learned how important it was to allow the victims families
a choice regarding the disposition of body fragments that had been identified
as coming from their loved ones.

When severe fragmentation occurs, it is critical
to permit family choice in the disposition of an identified fragment,
especially when the identification process may involve multiple fragments
from one person recovered over an extended time period. It would cause
great consternation for the family to release their loved ones remains
for burial only to inform them later that another fragment has been identified.
Choice in the disposition of such remains is best decided as soon as one
piece of tissue is identified.